Upstate clinches No. 3 seed in A-Sun

USC Upstate

Published: Friday, February 28, 2014 at 11:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 28, 2014 at 11:14 p.m.

When you plan to honor your seniors after the final regular season game instead of before, you’d better win.

The Spartans made sure it was a happy occasion.

USC Upstate had plenty of reasons to celebrate Friday night as the school honored its four seniors who helped beat East Tennessee State, 79-73, at the Hodge Center. With the victory, the Spartans also secured third place and a home game Tuesday in the opening round of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.

“This is great,” said senior Ricardo Glenn, who scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds. “It’s a real big boost for us. We knew it was going to be physical and a real challenge because both teams were fighting for that third position and a home game.”

In a tight game the whole way, neither team leading by more than five, USC Upstate (18-13, 11-7) turned up the defensive pressure and went on an 11-2 run to go up a dozen with just 1:50 remaining. But ETSU (17-14, 10-8) came storming back and a 3-pointer from the corner by Rashawn Rembert made it 75-73 with 42 seconds remaining.

The Spartans forced a couple of turnovers and made four of six from the foul line to secure the win.

“We didn’t make free throws (15 of 25 in the second half). That’s what you have to do,” USC Upstate head coach Eddie Payne said. “Fortunately, we made enough.”

USC Upstate survived despite going 3-for-17 from behind the 3-point arc while ETSU made 13 on 34 attempts. With the score tied at 56 and less than 11 minutes remaining, the Spartans held the Bucs to just seven total points on the next 15 possessions to pull ahead.

Two trips into the second half, ETSU had already made 11 shots from 3-point land. But the Bucs had just one more until that one by Rembert, who was 8-for-14 from long range and finished with 33 points.

“They were hitting a lot of tough shots,” Glenn said. “Rembert is a really good shooter and he was hitting them with hands in his face. We had to buckle down and get a few stops. That’s what fueled the run.”

USC Upstate’s win was good news for Florida Gulf Coast, which now can secure the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the tournament with a win Saturday afternoon at Northern Kentucky. A win by ETSU would have put Mercer, which is tied with FGCU, in that spot.

Both FGCU and Mercer lost on Thursday, neither able to wrap up the top seed without help. The Eagles are in the best position now because they split with the co-leading Bears and beat USC Upstate twice while Mercer went just 1-1 against the Spartans.

Semifinals will be played Thursday and the championship 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. The Eagles will never have to leave Alico Arena, where they are 9-0 in league games and 13-1 overall, the only loss coming Dec. 1 against Iona.

“Florida Gulf Coast has a huge advantage because of the sellout crowds,” Eddie Payne said. “That gives them a lot of energy and the players feed of that. “

ETSU, despite the loss, will also secure a first-round home game if North Florida (9-8 Atlantic Sun) on Saturday can handle last-place Kennesaw State (3-14), which is the only eligible team that did not make the tournament field.

The prospect of beating Mercer and Florida Gulf Coast back-to-back on their home courts, however, is daunting for the rest.

“It’s going to be a real tough road,” Payne said. “But (Thursday night) was a great example of what can happen. Every game is up for grabs.”

<p>When you plan to honor your seniors after the final regular season game instead of before, you'd better win.</p><p>The Spartans made sure it was a happy occasion.</p><p>USC Upstate had plenty of reasons to celebrate Friday night as the school honored its four seniors who helped beat East Tennessee State, 79-73, at the Hodge Center. With the victory, the Spartans also secured third place and a home game Tuesday in the opening round of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.</p><p>“This is great,” said senior Ricardo Glenn, who scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds. “It's a real big boost for us. We knew it was going to be physical and a real challenge because both teams were fighting for that third position and a home game.”</p><p>Glenn was honored along with Jodd Maxey (19 points), Torrey Craig (10 points) and Babatunde Olumuyiwa.</p><p>The party almost started too early.</p><p>In a tight game the whole way, neither team leading by more than five, USC Upstate (18-13, 11-7) turned up the defensive pressure and went on an 11-2 run to go up a dozen with just 1:50 remaining. But ETSU (17-14, 10-8) came storming back and a 3-pointer from the corner by Rashawn Rembert made it 75-73 with 42 seconds remaining.</p><p>The Spartans forced a couple of turnovers and made four of six from the foul line to secure the win.</p><p>“We didn't make free throws (15 of 25 in the second half). That's what you have to do,” USC Upstate head coach Eddie Payne said. “Fortunately, we made enough.”</p><p>USC Upstate survived despite going 3-for-17 from behind the 3-point arc while ETSU made 13 on 34 attempts. With the score tied at 56 and less than 11 minutes remaining, the Spartans held the Bucs to just seven total points on the next 15 possessions to pull ahead.</p><p>Two trips into the second half, ETSU had already made 11 shots from 3-point land. But the Bucs had just one more until that one by Rembert, who was 8-for-14 from long range and finished with 33 points.</p><p>“They were hitting a lot of tough shots,” Glenn said. “Rembert is a really good shooter and he was hitting them with hands in his face. We had to buckle down and get a few stops. That's what fueled the run.”</p><p>USC Upstate's win was good news for Florida Gulf Coast, which now can secure the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the tournament with a win Saturday afternoon at Northern Kentucky. A win by ETSU would have put Mercer, which is tied with FGCU, in that spot.</p><p>Both FGCU and Mercer lost on Thursday, neither able to wrap up the top seed without help. The Eagles are in the best position now because they split with the co-leading Bears and beat USC Upstate twice while Mercer went just 1-1 against the Spartans.</p><p>Semifinals will be played Thursday and the championship 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. The Eagles will never have to leave Alico Arena, where they are 9-0 in league games and 13-1 overall, the only loss coming Dec. 1 against Iona.</p><p>“Florida Gulf Coast has a huge advantage because of the sellout crowds,” Eddie Payne said. “That gives them a lot of energy and the players feed of that. “</p><p>ETSU, despite the loss, will also secure a first-round home game if North Florida (9-8 Atlantic Sun) on Saturday can handle last-place Kennesaw State (3-14), which is the only eligible team that did not make the tournament field.</p><p>The prospect of beating Mercer and Florida Gulf Coast back-to-back on their home courts, however, is daunting for the rest.</p><p>“It's going to be a real tough road,” Payne said. “But (Thursday night) was a great example of what can happen. Every game is up for grabs.”</p>